Overnight stopping point in PA Rt. 81 area

[cpl100]

I am trying to find a place to stay for the night on my last night on the road (going home) from Disney. I will be starting from Charlotte NC that morning. I believe I should make it to about Harrisburg if I drive about 8 hours.

Does anyone have any experience in that area or know if there's a better area just a little sooner or later?

Thanks so much.

I can't believe I am leaving Tuesday for my first Disney road trip!

 

[MulanMom]

Never stayed in the area, but have traveled through it frequently. I would suggest staying someplace just north of Harrisburg, but south of the split with I-78. There are a few exits along that stretch that have a few hotels/restaurants. Sorry I can't help with exact exit numbers. If you look at a map, these exits would be around Hershey, Annandale (Annedale?). The benefit is you will be north of the city during the morning's rush hour. I also tend to think this area is a little less prone to crime than the denser populated areas around Harrisburg.

JMHO! HTH!

 

[cpl100]

I was thinking of Harrisburg but I will now check out your suggestions. Any other comments?? Thanks!

 

[ducklite]

There's a Fairfield Inn in Hershey that's safe, clean and affordable. Because it's summer and Hershey Park is in full swing, I wouldn't leave it to chance. Book inadvance or you likely wo'tn get a room.

If you think you can go a little further, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton area is quite safe and will be cheaper. There are a ton of chain budget motels (Hampton, Red Roof, etc.) with easy on/off 81.

Anne

 

[cpl100]

Thanks ducklite. I had originally planned on Scranton but then decided it was just a bit too far and picked the next largest city which appears to be Harrisburg.

A check through the AAA book shows a Comfort Suites and Hampton Inn in Grantville so I will try to check them out.

Has anyone stayed in this area?

It is just North of Harrisburg as suggested.

 

[3stooges]

Follow MulanMom's suggestion and stop north of Harrisburg. There are many motels in the area and if you like coasters Hersheypark has built several new ones in recent years. The exit numbers are around 100. An internet search may locate you a decent price as well as availability.

 

[frazzled one]

We stayed at the Holiday Inn In Grantville, PA last summer (immediately off of Exit 80 on 81) and I'd highly recommend it for the excellent condition of the rooms. There are 3 or 4 hotels off of that exit, and not much in the way of restaurants, though the hotel dining room was pretty satisfactory. It's about a 12 minute drive on the back roads to Hershey from there, where there are a zillion restaurants.

If you want something with a little more room, the Homewood Suites Harrisburg West (actually in Mechanicsburg) is outstanding! Winner of their annual corporate award for 5 years or something - excellent free breakfast w/ hot & cold items, plenty of space in the very clean suites - I'd stay there again in a minute! It's actually off of 76 - I think it took us 15 minutes or so to get there from 81.

Though it's in the same vicinity and there are lots of hotels, I don't recommend stopping in Carlisle - major truck area, so it can be noisy and take a while to make any progress on the main drag. We stayed in a Radisson there once because it looked good on line - it was a complex of 5 pretty spread-out buildings and had a very creepy feeling late at night.

We always have such bad luck picking a hotel for our way home from WDW (we stop off in VA/MD). I guess that nothing looks good after you leave Disney!

fraz

 

[cpl100]

Originally posted by frazzled one
We stayed at the Holiday Inn In Grantville, PA last summer (immediately off of Exit 80 on 81) and I'd highly recommend it for the excellent condition of the rooms. There are 3 or 4 hotels off of that exit, and not much in the way of restaurants, though the hotel dining room was pretty satisfactory. It's about a 12 minute drive on the back roads to Hershey from there, where there are a zillion restaurants.

If you want something with a little more room, the Homewood Suites Harrisburg West (actually in Mechanicsburg) is outstanding! Winner of their annual corporate award for 5 years or something - excellent free breakfast w/ hot & cold items, plenty of space in the very clean suites - I'd stay there again in a minute! It's actually off of 76 - I think it took us 15 minutes or so to get there from 81.

Though it's in the same vicinity and there are lots of hotels, I don't recommend stopping in Carlisle - major truck area, so it can be noisy and take a while to make any progress on the main drag. We stayed in a Radisson there once because it looked good on line - it was a complex of 5 pretty spread-out buildings and had a very creepy feeling late at night.

We always have such bad luck picking a hotel for our way home from WDW (we stop off in VA/MD). I guess that nothing looks good after you leave Disney!

fraz

Thank you. I just checked the Homewood Suites and they are sold out for my night. Late last night I found availability at a Country Inn and Suites at exit 77 and the Hampton Inn in Grantville. I had booked a Country Inn & Suites in SC on the recommendation of someone on these boards and thought I might try this one too. Anyone been there? Or to the Hampton Hershey must be doing a bang up business because quite a few hotels are sold out.

 

[BlessedMomOfTwo]

If you don't want to drive the whole way to Harrisburg, you could stop in Chambersburg, PA. It is about an hour south of Harrisburg. Nice, safe area - my hometown. There are several hotels right at the exits from I-81 - Hampton Inn, Quality Inn, Sheraton, Fairfield.

If you will be heading up thru Harrisburg during busier hours (rush hours) there is an express lane that will shoot off to your left that will help you avoid some of the starting & stopping with the exits in Harrisburg. You would join back up with I-81 before you get to the Grantville & Hershey exits area. I have also stayed at the Grantville Holiday Inn (for business meetings) and it is very nice.